Doi Suthep

Sixteen km n.w. of Chiang Mai (where i live) and looming over the city like a doting mother stands Doi Suthep. The 1676 m peak is named after the hermit Sudeva, who once called the mountain's slopes home. On top of this mountain is Wat Buak Khrok Luang., a little charming monistary.

Here is a view of the mountain from my apartment.


Anyway, a friend and i drove up on our motorbikes to the temple. Its a half-hour long ride along a suprisingly new and clearly marked road up a windey but not too windey path. Luckily it wasnt sweltering as usual so it was an awesome ride.

Once you park you have to climb a shitload of stairs up to the temple.



You meet all types of characters just hanging out on the stairs. Like this guy...



and then there are all these kids who i guess either are 1.members of the temple or 2.sent by their parents to ask people like me for money





"hey I live here, im no tourist, lets go left" my shadow said



OK here are some pictures inside the temple, it was such an amazing place. They really dont mind taking pictures at all, it actually seems that they like it because it shows people what their religion is about and how they practice it. Imagine just walking into a temple or church in the US in the middle of services and just snapping away. You would get sent to jail or something. Not in Thailand though. I dont know much about whats going on so I will just post the pictures.

i really really like this picture
























some dog hanging out


me being ignorant as usual






love this pic too






ok on my way down saw these two. the one girl tries to be nice and give the other a lick of her popsicle



but then looks really pissed when the other girls just takes the whole thing away



saw this awesome sign on the way home "drunk dont drive"...."drunk dont make sign properly"



and here is the dog that chills with the people that run my building...maxi...i might have to kidnap him when i come back to america...i will just make a fake dog out of paper mache and pull the old switch-a-roo....alacatraz style...